V. I. Lenin

Letter to the Central Committee,
      The Moscow And Petrograd
      Committees and the Bolshevik Members
      of the Petrograd and Moscow Soviets

Written:October 1 (14), 1917First Published:1921 in N. Lenin,Works, Volume XIV, Part 2. Published according to a
      typewritten copySource:Lenin’sCollected
      Works, Progress Publishers, Moscow, Volume 26, 1972,
      pp. 140-141Translated:Yuri Sdobnikov and George
      Hanna, Edited by George HannaTranscription & HTML Markup:Charles
      Farrell and David WaltersOnline Version:Lenin Internet ArchiveNovember,
      2000

Dear Comrades,

Events are prescribing our task so clearly for us that
      procrastination is becoming positivelycriminal.

The peasant movement is developing. The government is
      intensifying its severe repressive measures. Sympathy for us is
      growing in the army (99 per cent of the soldiers' votes were
      cast for us in Moscow, the army in Finland and the fleet are
      against the government, and there is Dubasov's evidence about
      the front in general).

In Germany the beginning of a revolution is obvious, especially
      since the sailors were shot. The elections in Moscow—47 per
      cent Bolsheviks—are a tremendous victory. Together with the
      Left Socialist-Revolutionaries we have anobviousmajorityin the country.

The railway and postal employees are in conflict with the
      government. Instead of calling the Congress for October 20, the
      Lieberdans are already talking of calling it at the end of
      October, etc., etc.

Under such circumstances to “wait” would be a crime.

The Bolsheviks have no right to wait for the Congress of
      Soviets, they musttake power at once.By so doing they
      will save the world revolution (for otherwise there is danger of
      a deal between the imperialists of all countries, who, after the
      shootings in Germany, will be more accommodating to each other
      andwill unite against us),the Russian revolution
      (otherwise a wave of real anarchy may become strongerthan
      we are)and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people at
      the front.

Delay is criminal. To wait for the Congress of Soviets would be
      a childish game of formalities, a disgraceful game of
      formalities, and a betrayal of the revolution.

If power cannot be achieved without insurrection, we mustresort to insurrection at once.It may very well be
      that right now power can be achieved without insurrection, for
      example, if the Moscow Soviet were to take power at once,
      immediately, and proclaim itself (together with the Petrograd
      Soviet) the government. Victory in Moscow is guaranteed, and
      there is no need to fight. Petrograd can wait. The government
      cannot do anything to save itself; it will surrender.

For, by seizing power and taking over the banks, the factories
      andRusskoye Slovo,the Moscow Soviet would secure a
      tremendous basis and tremendous strength, it would be able to
      campaign throughout Russia and raise the issue thus: we shall
      proposepeace tomorrowif the Bonapartist Kerensky
      surrenders (and if he does not, we shall overthrow him). We
      shall hand over thelandto the peasants atonce,we shall make concessions to the railway and
      postal employeesat once,and so on.

It is not necessary to “begin” with Petrograd. If
      Moscow “begins” without any blood being shed, it will
      certainly be supported by (1) the army at the front by its
      sympathy, (2) the peasants everywhere and (3) the fleet and
      the. troops in Finland, which willproceed to
      Petrograd.

Even if Kerensky has a corps or two of mounted troops near
      Petrograd, he will be obliged to surrender. The Petrograd Soviet
      can wait and campaign for the Moscow Soviet Government. The
      slogan is: Power to the Soviets, Land to the Peasants, Peace to
      the Nations, Bread to the Starving!

Victory is certain, and the chances are ten to one that it will
      be a bloodless victory.

To wait would be a crime to the revolution.

Greetings, 
      N. Lenin